The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-01-30

The Crush at the Chinese Minister'S Ball
New Departure by People Who Entertain.
Special to the Indianapolis Journal.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 29-The ball at the Chi
nese legation, on Thursday night. was the most
conspicuous event this year in the social season.
1t was noteworthy in several senses. Invita-
tons were limited and demands for them unpre-
cedentedly large. The severesr kind Of pressure
was brought to bear on Mr. Bartlett the affable
dignified secretary to the legation, and week
before the event the cards were exhausted.
Seven hundred invitations were issued, and nine
hundred people were present. Of these nine
hundred. there were one hundred who, with I'M
blushing and affluent effrontery. presented
themselves without the faintest possible right
Never was there better-dressed, handsomer
and more ill-bred crowd gathered together in
this city of we'll dressed, illmannered assem-
blages. There were twenty women for each
man. The chairs and touches, the circular
stairway, the doorways, the very walls were
covered and lined with distrait-looking women
who looked daggers at those who sailed by with
a man. After hearty hand clasp from the suave
minister of the Celestials the crowd surged
through the spacious drawing-room and into the
palm adorned ballroom. where at 10 o'clock,
the strains of concealed and effective orchestra
announced that dancing had begun. Forty peo-
pie danced on the slipperest floor that ever was
waxed, and four hundred people crowded around
them, suggesting gigantic cake walk in all save
the costumes. This human ring stood there
with but slight alteration in its personnel
throughout the night, and stared and ogled and
made rancorous remarks. The courty Mongo-
lians, who were all suavity and affability, did
their level best to clear the room SO that those
who wished to dance might do so, but after an
hours vain effort gave up their ungrateful task.
When, at IL o'clock, the supper parlor was
thrown open the rush thither was like that in a
newsboys home, and for two hours there was
line eight deep struggling, pushing and crowd
ing, and it was only after the table was stripped
Of everything edible and drinkable that the
swell mob retired. At o'clock the crowd began
to diminish, and the first enjoyment of the
night was experienced by those who remained.
The night will mark the beginning of an era
in matters social at the Capital The presence
of many unbidden guests the wanton vul-
garity and exceedingly bad manners of many.
added the last bale of straw to the. load of
abused entertainers A movement which had
its origin in the dawn of Wednesday morning,
| i'll group of prominent people who we're in
censed at the developments of the preceding
night, has already grown to the point that off,
cial and diplomatic hosts publicly assert that no
| one will in future be admitted at their enter
| taiuments unless the card of Abundance, which
will accompany all future invitations shall be
shown. Lists have to be carefully scrutinized
and largely reduced. and all who act like coal
| beavers and fish-women will have ended their
careers in the official and diplomatic entertain
ments of the town. So offensive had this in:
| trusive nuisance become that Mrs. Cleveland
| was, on Thursday, forced to announce that hel
| card mornings were at an end She looked
| upon them an opportunity to meet those
whose acquaintance she wished to cultivate
| but when several hundred people rushed il
upon her, as thought was public reception
she, after those experiences, gave up as hopeless
| any attempt to carry out her wish.